Gisbson Kente Lecture Review By Thami akaMbongo Manzana Soweto Theatre – 28 February 2025 Let us begin with the truth. The venue was not sold out , despite what was claimed on Soweto Theatre’s social media platforms. Optics matter. Integrity matters more. The event was scheduled for 3pm. It started an hour later. Some might argue that it was because of the Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium. But if that was the case, then it exposes a deeper problem — a miscalculation in programming . Unless we were meant to miss the irony of hosting a lecture about the Father of Township Theatre at the same time as one of the biggest township sporting spectacles in the country. Programming is political. Timing is intentional. The Questions That Went Unanswered In the build-up to the lecture, there was visible discomfort within the artistic community regarding the selection of Mbuyiseni Ndlozi as Guest Speaker. When a photograph of Dr Ndlozi alongside James Ngco...

Capacity Building at the 10th Tembisa Theatre Week From 21 February to 01 March 2026 , the 10th edition of Tembisa Theatre Week stands as a powerful declaration: community theatre is not surviving — it is building. For ten years, this festival has existed against the odds. Out of those ten years, only two editions received funding , while eight were delivered without financial backing . That reality alone speaks volumes about commitment, sacrifice and belief in community arts development. This year marks a turning point. The festival is funded by the National Arts Council of South Africa through the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP 6). It is a reminder that when public resources meet consistent community work, growth becomes possible. But beyond the ten productions on stage, what truly defines this year’s edition is its robust Capacity Building Programme — entirely FREE OF CHARGE.                    Image  Source: ...

A Note of Appreciation to Alex Theatre Company and Academy The Creative Passport Online Media Publication extends its sincere appreciation to Alex Theatre Company and Academy for partnering with us as one of the official media partners during the 2026 National Community Arts Indaba. This partnership was not symbolic. It was a deliberate and committed collaboration, anchored in a shared belief that community arts conversations must be documented, amplified, and made accessible beyond conference rooms and formal programmes.  The Creative Passport demonstrated this commitment through a daily posting schedule over a full week , leading up to the Indaba, throughout its duration, and until its closing day. Image: Community Arts Indaba Sitting      (Source: Arts TV) Beyond Coverage: Active Participation Beyond publishing content, The Creative Passport was present — physically, intellectually, and critically.  The Founding Editor, Thami akaMbongo Manzana, attended the ...

From Reflection to Responsibility As delegates gather on the final day of the National Community Arts Indaba, the mood shifts from diagnosis to decision. After days of listening, debating, mapping challenges and surfacing long-standing frustrations, the last day is designed to bring clarity on what comes next before participants return to their provinces. This final engagement is not ceremonial. It is a working session that asks difficult questions about accountability, coordination and continuity in the community arts sector. The emphasis moves away from identifying problems — many of which are well known — towards consolidating insights and outlining pathways for action.                      Image: ATCA Logo      (Source: ACTA) Consolidating Provincial Realities One of the key objectives of the final day is to consolidate inputs from provincial engagements. Delegates are invited to reflect on recurring patterns tha...

No One Should Be Left Behind Scan the report and see for yourself what unfolded in your province — who was consulted, where engagements took place, and how community arts voices were brought into the national conversation. Across the arts and culture sector, many practitioners have raised concerns about exclusion — not knowing where consultations took place, who represented their province, or how decisions were informed.  Access to clear information is one of the most important ways to address these concerns. Alex Theatre Company and Academy (ATCA) has now made the Community Arts research findings publicly accessible. These findings provide a province-by-province account of where consultations were held, who participated, and who represented each province during the research process. The Creative Passport encourages all creatives, organisations and practitioners to scan and read the sections relating to their own provinces. Understanding what happened on the ground helps demystify ...

  From Deliberation to Direction After a successful and productive Day 1,  Day 2 of the National Community Arts Indaba shifts the focus decisively from reflection to resolution.  Where Day 1 asked who we are and where we come from , Day 2 asks the harder questions: how do we fix what is broken, how do we strengthen what works, and how do we build a sustainable future for community arts in South Africa? Day 2 is deliberately designed as the working heart of the Indaba.  It is less ceremonial and more structural — engaging policy, funding frameworks, governance models, provincial realities, and implementation challenges that continue to define the lived experience of community arts practitioners across the country.          Image: ATCA Logo         Source: ATCA Building from Day 1 The day opens by reconnecting participants with the key reflections, tensions, and commitments that emerged on Day 1. This continuity is critica...